IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sdences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14980 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  institute  for  Historicai  l\/licroreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


TM 
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D 
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I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
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0 
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0 
D 
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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Th 
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of 
fill 


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thi 
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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


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The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — *>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

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method: 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  At4  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

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par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE ',  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichi,  11  est  film6  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  &  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m6thode. 


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GROYER  &  BAKER  S 

CELEBRATED 

SEWIM  MACHINES 

For  Manufacturing  and  Family  Uses, 

Are  the  only  style  adapted  to  all  the  require- 
ments of  the  California  Public. 


f  #%  €411@#<l 


. :' '   Our  Manufacturing  Machines  are 

JUST  THE  THING 


FOB   MAKING 


Tents,  Bags,  Awnings,  Ceilings 
and  Clothing. 

An  investment  in  one  or  more  of  these  Ma* 
chines  would  entitle  the  purchaser 

TO  A  SURE  WELL-PAYW8  CLAIM 

On  every  Miner  who  desired  a  Tent  for 
Shelter,  Clothing,  fo^  Comfort,  or 
'       Bags  for  general  pirposes. 


329lti»i1 


S:utere#«ccoi 
in  the  Clerk*! 


T?*- 


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rnia. 


I 


THREE  TEARS 


IN 


CARIBOO: 

By    jo.    LINDLEY, 

BEING  THE  EXPERIENCE  AND  OBSERVATIONS  OF  A  PACKER, 

What  I  saw  and  know  of  the  Country ;    Its  Traveled 

Routes,  Distances,  Villages,  Mines,  Trade 

and  Prospects. 

WITH 

Distances,  Notes  and  Facts,  Relative  to  the 

Salmon  River  and  Nez  Perces  Gold  Fields. 

\  - 

By  T.   R.    OLNEY. 


,1 


SAN  FRANCISCO: 

PUBLISHED  BY  A.   ROSENFIELD. 

TOWNE  &  BACON,  PRINTERS. 
18  6  2. 


4 

i 


i 


V 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  object  of  the  following  pages  is,  to  furnish 
reliable  information  to  those  who  are  determined  to 
help  swell  the  great  wave  of  adventure  now  flowing 
towards  the  newly  discovered —  and  if  recent  accounts 
are  reliable —  fabulously  rich  gold  fields  of  Washing- 
ton Territory  and  British  Columbia. 

The  publisher,  for  the  sale  of  this  work,  does  not 
rely  upon  the  size  of  his  volume,  its  well  rounded 
sentences  or  its  promises  of  wealth  to  the  adventurous 
gold  seeker,  so  much  as  upon  its  accuracy  and  relia- 
bility, as  a  guide  to  the  traveler,  in  his  progress  towards 
his  enchanted,  because j^r  offy  El  Dorado. 

THE  PUBLISHER. 

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ROUTE  TO  CARIBOO. 


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From  San  Francisco,  by  strsamer,  miles. 

TO  VICTORIA,  V.  I.,  about 800 

From  Victoria  to  New  Westminster,  the  Cap- 
ital of  British  Columbia,  on  the  north  bank 

of  Fraser  River,  by  steamer 100 

From  New  Westminster,  by  steamer,  to  the 
mouth  of 

HARRISON  RIVER 45 

Continue  by  steamer  up  Harrison  River  to 

HARRISON  LAKE 5 

Continue  by  steamer  to  north  end  of  Harri- 
son Lake, 

TO  PORT  DOUGLASS 45 

Now  over  a  fine  road  on  foot  or  in  wagon — 
called  a  stage — with  eating  houses  and  ^Yhisky 
shops  at  convenient  distances, 

TO  LITTLE  LILLOET  LAKE 29 

Here  take  steamer,  sail  or  row-boat, 

TO  END  OF  LAKE 7 

Now  an  easy  portage  on  foot  or  wagon 

TO  PEMBERTON  LAKE,  nearly 2 

Cross  the  Lake  by  steamer 

TO  PEMBERTON  CITY 17 

Almost  anything  in  the  line  of  provisions  or 
clothing   can   be  obtained  here,  with  good 
hotel  accommodations. 
Now  a  good  road 

TO  HALF  WAY  HOUSE 14 

A  good  road  again 


ROUTE    TO    CAllinOO. 


TO  ANDERSON  LAKE,  AND  VILLAGE..     15 

Good  accommodjitions  here. 
Now  l)y  steamer  again 

TO  END  OF  LAKE 16 

Now  an  easy  portage  on  foot 

TO  SE ATON  LAKE,  less  than 2 

Now  by  steamer 

TO  EAST  END  OF  LAKE 16 

Again  on  foot  or  wagon 

TO  LILLOET  VILLAGE,  nearly 4 

Here  cross  the  Eraser  river  by  ferry  to  Cay- 
oosh  Fhit,  or  Parsonsville,  and  we  arc  now 
distant,  by  the  route  taken,  from  New  West- 
minster, two  hundred  and  seventeen  miles ; 
from  Victoria,  three  hundred  and  seventeen 
miles.  This  is  the  grand  rendezvous  of  the 
Cariboo  and  Upper  Eraser  river  packers  ;  and 
as  we  are  now  done  with  steamers,  stages  and 
wagons,  let  the  last  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  admonish  the  Cariboo  adventurer  of  the 
necessities  requisite  to  enable  him  to  perform 
.  journey  of  one  hundred  and  ninety  miles 
entirely  on  foot,  or  at  best  on  mule  back  but 
a  small  part  of  the  way ;  for  tliough  the  trip 
thus  fiir  may  have  proved  an  easy  one,  you 
may  now  expect  to  encounter  hardship  and 
exposure,  though  you  may  escape  real  danger. 
A  sufficiency  of  good,  warm  clothing  and 
blankets  is  indispensable ;  and  yet  to  carry  a 
single  blanket  or  a  pound  weight  of  extra 
boots  or  clothing  of  any  description,  lugs 
down  the  physical  man,  and  should  be  avoid- 
ed by  transferring  all  extra  weight  to  the  reg- 
ular packer.  This  enables  you  to  get  through 
from  six  to  eight  days  sooner  than  when  you 
pack  your  own  animals,  or,  hiring  it  done, 
accompany  the  packers ;  for  no  pack  train 
over  this  route  can  move  as  far  by  eight  or 
ten  miles  a  day,  as  men  can  unencumbered 
by  animals  and  all  unnecessary  weight. 


ROUTE    TO    CAKIliOO. 


15 

16 
2 

16 


«> 


The  wliolc  distance  from  Cayoosh  Flat  to 
the  Forks  of  the  Qiiesnell,  can  be  accomplish- 
ed without  carryinji'  more  than  one  day's  food 
at  anytime,  if  you  have  the  moans  to  procure 
it  at  the  several  stations  named,  alon}2:  the 
route;  hut  the  distances  must  he  made  daily, 
or  camping  out  on  short  allowance  is  inev- 
itable. 

Packers,  carryin<2j  tents  and  provisions,  do 
not  make  the  reaching  of  the  stations  a  ne- 
cessity, but  camp  where  food  and  water  can 
be  procured  for  their  animals. 

From  Lilloct  there  is  a  trail  leading  up  the 
west  bank  of  the  Fraser  river  to  Express  Bar 
eighteen  miles,  thence  to  Big  Bar  fifteen 
miles,  and  crossing  the  Fraser  unites  with  the 
main  trail  on  the  east  bank.  From  Cayoosh 
Flat,  opposite  Lilloet,  to  William's  Lake  on 
the  Cariboo  route,  there  are  two  trails :  one 
known  as  the  River  Trail,  that  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  way  lies  along  or  near  the  east 
bank  of  Fraser  river ;  the  other  the  Brigade 
Trail,  that  leads  oft'  from  Fraser  river  in  a 
north-easterly  direction  till  it  strikes  a  tribu- 
tary of  Thompson's  river,  then  north  to  La- 
hache  Lake,  then  w^est  to  William's  Lake, 
where  it  unites  with  the  River  Trail.  The 
Brigade  Trail  is  the  longest  route  by  more 
than  thirty  miles,  but  much  the  best  for  pack 
animals,  the  River  Trail  being  really  danger- 
ous for  the  transit  of  even  the  surest  footed 
mule. 

I>ISTAXCES  BY  THi:  BRIOAOH:  XRAII.. 

From    Cayoosh    Flat,    through   a  timbered 

country, 
TO  THE  'FOUNTAIN 8 

Now  over  a  fine,  rolling,  timbered  country, 
TO  THE  PAVILION 12 

Now  a  fine  trail 


6  llOUTE    TO    CAR  moo. 

TO  GOOD  CAMPING 14 

Thciu'c  over  a  muddy  trail 
TO  JOLIE  rUAIRlE 12 

Another  niuddv  trail  in  j)art 
TO  LITTLE  CREEK 12 

iS'ow  a  fair  trail 
TO  GREEN  LAKE 12 

Then  a  low,  nuuldv  trail 
TO  BRIDGE \ 22 

A  fair  trail  most  of  the  way 
TO  LAIIACIIE  LAKE 20 

Now  an  cxecllent  trail  along  the  lake 
TO  LAKE  SHORE  CAMP 18 

Thence  over  a  very  ^ood  trail 
TO  WILLIAM'3  LAKE 32 

Wliole  distance,  one  hundred  and  sixty-two 

miles. 

»ISTA]!lfCES  B5Y  THE  RIVElt  Tit  All.. 

From  Cayoosh  Flat 

TO  THE  FOUNTAIN 8 

TO  THE   PAVILION 12 

Now  a  low,  soft  trail  crossing  Big  Slide  creek 
and  on 

TO  LEON'S  STATION 15 

Heavy  timbered  country 

TO  BIG  BAR  CREEK 19 

Soft,  bad  trail 

TO  CANOE  CREEK  CROSSING 20 

Now  a  very  fair  trail 

TO  DOG  CREEK 10 

Now  near  the  river  and  then  along  Alkali 
lake  up 

TO  THE  CROSSING 17 

Now  over  a  hi^h  trail,  and  more  rolling  coun- 
try, crossing  Chimney  creek, 

TO  WILLIAM'S  LAKE 27 

Whole  distance,  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  miles. 

* 


I     TO 
TC 


f 


14 

12 

12 

12 

22 

20 

18 

32 


ROUTE    TO    CAllllIOO.  7 

From  Wil Hum's  lake 
TO  DAVISON'S  RANCH....: 3 

Here  the  Bri}4'a(le  trail  leads  off  to  the  north- 
west, towards  Fort  Alexandria ;  the  Caril)oo 
trail  in  a  north-easterly  direction  throu^^h  a 
timbered  country 

TO  DEEP  CUEEK 10 

A  more  mountainous  country 

TO  ROUND  TENT .^    12 

A  few  deep,  muddy  sloughs,  otherwise  a  fair 
trail 

TO  BEAVER   LAKE 16 

n<'rc  is  one  of  the  best  houses  on  the  whole 
ri)Ute.  It  is  now  kept  by  James  Sel  crs.  The 
country  is  level  and  well  adapted  to  cultiva- 
tion, producing  fine  vegetables  in  abundance. 
Now  a  bad,  wet,  low  trail 

T0T:TTLE   LAKE 16 

\^■!tll  very  little  improvement  in  the  trail,  you 
rea.'h 

THE  FORKS  OF  THE  QUESNELL 8 

Whole  distance  from  Cayoosh  Flat  by  the 
River  trail,  one  hundred  and  ninety  miles. 

Cross  the  south  fork  by  ferry  to  the  village 
of  Quesnell — (pronounced,  canal). 

Probably  by  this  time  the  most  hardy  ad- 
venturer on  the  route  is  beginning  to  be  well 
satisfied  that  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  get  to 
Cariboo,  for  though  on  paper  I  have  not  rep- 
resented the  trails  to  be  very  difficult  of  pas- 
sage, you  have  doubtless  found  the  Brigade 
trail  bad  enough,  and  the  River  trail,  if  you 
passed  that  way,  just  the  worst  of  all  trails 
that  mortal  man  ever  ought  to  think  of  get- 
ting over  alive.  Swamps  and  sloughs,  hills, 
mountains,  and  along  precipices  until  your 
head  would  swim  ;  but  no  matter,  we  are  now 
at  Quesnell,  another  grand  point  on  the  route 
to  Cariboo,  for  we  are  not  quite  there  yet. 
Here  almost  anything  really  required  by 


8 


ROUTE    TO    CARIBOO. 


V'i 


TO 


the  miner  can  be  obtained  at  fair  prices,  which 
means,  five  or  six  times  as  much  as  the  same 
articles  can  be  had  for  at  Victoria  ;  for  though 
a  packer  and  interested  in  the  sale  of  mer- 
chandise, I  state  this  as  true,  and  therefore 
that  every  man  that  can  should  obtain  his 
outfit,  provisions  and  tools,  at  Victoria,  if 
able  to  pack  them  through  ;  it  may  cause  him 
a  deal  of  trouble  and  delay  on  the  way,  but 
he  will  save  money  by  the  operation. 

Now  for  Cariboo,  and  if  early  in  the  season 
or  before  the  first  of  June,  every  man  must 
pack  on  his  back,  not  only  liis  "  grub,"  but 
the  necessary  mining  tools.  Later  in  the  sea- 
son, say  by  first  of  July,  animals  are  able  to 
traverse  most  of  the  routes  among  the  princi- 
pal mining  localities,  and  this  is  as  soon  as  it 
will  be  found  profitable  to  reach  the  mines ; 
before  this  very  little  can  be  done  on  account 
of  the  depth  of  the  snow. 

If,  however,  you  possess  ample  means  to 
buy  your  meals  on  the  way,  they  can  be  pro- 
cured at  the  several  stations  along  the  route, 
but  at  prices  that  will  set  you  thinking  of  your 
"  bottom  dollar,"  unless  your  purse  reaches 
to  your  boots. 

Well,  here  we  go  From  Quesnell  follow 
up  the  east  bank  of  the  north  fork,  cross  Span- 
ish creek,  and  over  a  very  bad  and  diflicult 
trail, 

TOLL  BRIDGE 

Cross,  and  follow  up  the  west  bank  to  Keith- 
ley's  creek,  which  flows  into  Little  Cariboo 
lake.  Here  is  another  village  of  considerable 
pretensions,  and  a  point  from  which  radiate 
several  routes.  In  a  south-easterly  direction, 
distant  four  miles,  is  Goose  creek,  that  will 
pay  from  fifteen  to  twenty  dollars  a  day  to  the 
man,  and  yet  abandoned  for  better.  North- 
easterly from  Keithley's,  distant  seven  miles, 


T 
T 


T 
A 


8 


ROUTE    TO    CARIBOO. 


d 


8 


i 

; 
1 


I 


is  Harney's  creek,  along  which  for  miles  arc 
digjjjings  that  in  any  other  country  than  Cari- 
boo would  be  called  rich. 

Keithley's  maj  be  said  to  be  the  beginninpj 
of  the  Cariboo  mines,  or  the  southern  limit  of 
the  same. 

From  this  point  we  take  a  mountain  trail, 
and  a  hard  one  it  is,  till  you  make  a  descent 

TO  LITTLE    CREEK 6 

There  is  good  camping  here.  Now  on  to 
Snow  Shoes  creek,  which  we  follow  up 

TO  THE  CROSSING 8 

We  now  cross  over  Snow  Shoes  mountain, 
difficult  only  on  account  of  the  depth  of  the 
snow,  in  the  eai4y  part  of  the  season,  it  being 
very  deep  till  quite  the  first  of  June ;  you 
now  pass  down 

TO  FAIR  CAMPING   GROUND 8 

Another  hard  tramp  and  vou  reach 

ANTLER   CITY " 12 

Whole  distance  from  Quesnell  to  Antler  City 
and  creek,  forty-two  miles,  and  we  are  in 
Cariboo.  But  now  ''comes  the  tug  of  war," 
or  rather  mining,  in  the  most  inhospit^ible, 
rugged,  rainy  and  snowy  country  that  gold 
was  ever  found  in  I  am  sure  ;  but  as  the  ad- 
vice of  "  only  a  packer  "  would  be  little  heed- 
ed by  old  California  miners,  I  shall  content 
myself  with  finishing  up  my  oft  traveled 
routes,  with  their  distances,  and  then  with  a 
few  general  remarks,  leave  the  Cariboo  miner 
to  make  a  princely  fortune  in  about  the  short- 
est time  that  a  fortune  was  ever  made ;  or, 
after  a  few,  very  few,  brief  months  of  disap- 
pointment, see  him  on  his  weary  way  back  to 
the  abodes  of  civilization,  a  wiser  man  in  all 
that  relates  to  Cariboo. 
From  Antler  Citv 

TO  MOUNTAIN  LAKE  HOUSE 10 

From  the  Lake  House  to  and  down  Liglitniiig 
creek 


10 


ROUTE    TO    CARIBOO. 


TO  END  OF   CATION. 10 

There  are  rich  diggings  on  this  creek  for 
many  miles  below  this  point.  From  Light- 
ning cafion,  north  and  west, 

TO  VAN  WINKLE   CREEK. 12 

This  is  a  tributary  of  Lightning  creek,  and 
lower  down  is 

LAST   CHANCE " 5 

There  is  a  mountain  trail  and  more  direct, 
from  the  Lake  House  to  Last  Chance,  that 
leaves  Lightning  canon  and  Van  Winkle 
creek  to  the  right  and  shortens  the  distance 
five  or  six  miles. 

JACK   OF    CLUBS    CHEEK  heads  near  the 
Lake  House.     From  Jack  of  Clubs 

TO  BUKNS^  CKEEK 9 

From  thence  pass  over  the  Three  Ridges 

TO  NELSON'S    CREEK 6 

From  Nelson's 

TO  WILLOWS   CREEK 4 


cf 


So  little  is  known  of  the  country  directly  to  the  north 
of  the  present  Cariboo  mines,  that  to  this  day  it  is  a 
matter  of  doubt  whether  Antler  creek  is  tributary  to 
Bear  river  or  Willows  creek,  and  the  same  is  true  of 
Grouse  creek.  Both  run  northwardly  and  discharge 
their  waters  into  almost  impenetrable — because  densely 
timbered — swamps. 

William's,  Jack  of  Clubs,  Burns'  and  Nelson's 
creeks,  all  of  which  have  pro'^'cd.  rich,  with  several 
others  not  yet  prospected,  are  all  tributaries  of  Wil- 
lows creek  ;  wliilst  Van  Winkle,  Chisolm,Last  Chance, 
Dnvis,  Peters,  Louhie  and  other  creeks  lower  down 
and  never  yet  prospected,  are  tributaries  of  Lightning 
creek.. 

And  now,  after  nearly  a  three  years'  experience  in 
Cariboo,  sometimes  wielding  the  pick  and  shovel,  but 
for  the  most  part  guiding  the  sometimes  stubborn,  but 
always  patient  mule,  over  mountaui  snows  and  dec]) 
morass,  you  would  like  perhaps  to  know   just   what  I 


ROUTE    TO    CARIJJOO. 


11 


•     k     • 

for 

10 

•   «   • 

and 

12 

•   •   • 

ect, 
hat 
kic 

5 

nee 

the 


9 


e  north 
'^  it  is  a 
tarj^  to 
true  of 
(^'harrre 
Icnsely 

slson's 
ioveral 
P  Wil- 
dance, 
(lown 
lining 

ice  in 
1,  hut 
1,  hut 
(Ice)) 
lat   [ 


think   of  it,  as   a   gold    producing   country,  and   the 
chances  for  securing  a  fortune  in  it,  from  mining. 

The  extent  of  the  mining  country  known  even  now 
as  Carihoo,  has  been  greatly  underrated ;  very  many 
have  limited  it  to  forty  or  iifty  s([uare  miles.  Tlie  fact 
is,  it  is  over  forty  miles  in  extent  from  north  to  south, 
and  as  many  miles,  or  more,  from  east  to  west,  and 
this  alone  gives  an  area  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
square  miles,  instead  of  only  forty.  No  one  can  deny 
the  probability  that  equally  rich  diggings  to  any  yet 
discovered,  will  be  opened  out  as  soon  as  the  remain- 
ing, as  well  as  adjoining,  untouched  ravines,  creeks 
and  rivers'  beds  shall  have  been  prospected.  I  believe 
it  to  be  a  vastly  rich  gold  field  ;  but  with  one  of  the 
most  inhospitable  and  rigorous  climates  in  wnich  man 
ever  dug  for  gold,  with  about  five  chances  against,  to 
one  in  favor,  of  making  a  fortune. 

Too  many  persons  go  to  Cariboo  with  entirely  mis- 
taken notions  of  the  difficulties  to  be  encountered; 
they  will  not  believe  one-half  that  is  told  them  of  the 
fatigues  of  the  journey  or  the  labor  necessary  to  open 
out  successfully  a  paying  claim  ;  they  base  their  calcu- 
lations too  much  upon  previous  experience  in  Califor- 
nia or  elsewhere,  which  will  not  apply  to  the  gold 
fields  of  Cariboo.  No  man  going  there  should  expect 
to  make  much  more  than  expenses  the  first  season, 
unless  he  is  able  to  buy  into  a  good  paying  claim  at 
once.  Tlic  cost  of  prospecting  for  a  claim  is  often- 
times enormous,  on  account  of  the  high  price  of  pro- 
visions and  supplies  of  every  kind.  You  cannot  take 
a  mule,  pack  him  with  "grub,"  tools  and  blankets,  and 
start  off  on  a  two  or  three  weeks'  prospecting  tour,  as 
in  California.  The  extreme  roughness  of  the  hill 
lands,  and  quagmire  condition  of  the  low  country,  ab- 
solutely forbid  it.  A  great  deal  of  the  country  is  so 
densely  timbered  that  even  grass  cannot  grow  in  suf- 
ficient abundance  to  maintain  animals,  at  the  same 
time  that  it  presents  almost  an  imj)enetrable  barrier  to 
progress. 

But  even  these  obstacles  might  he  in  a  measure 


i     t 
■ 


I» 


ROUTE    TO    CARIBOO. 


overcome,  and  the  mines  more  rapidly  developed,  but 
for  the  extreme  shortness  of  the  season.  Four  months 
is  the  lonp!:est  term  of  surface  mining  that  can  he  hoped 
for,  and  during  that  short  period  a  great  deal  of  the 
time  drenching  rains  are  falling  and  flooding  every- 
thing around  you — mining  claim,  camping  grounds, 
tents — nothing  escapes  the  constant  soaking;  so  that 
if  you  succeed  against  all  these  drawbacks,  in  hunting 
up,  prospecting  and  fairly  opening  out  a  good  claim, 
ready  for  the  second  season's  successful  operations,  you 
may  consider  yourself  fortunate. 

That  mining  will  be  more  generally  successful  in  the 
Cariboo  country  after  better  roads  shall  have  been 
opened  up  and  living  becomes  cheaper,  there  is  no 
doubt,  because  the  gold  is  there  and  will  never  be  let 
alone.  My  opinion  is,  that  extremely  rich  hill  or  deep 
diggings  will  soon  be  found  all  through  the  Cariboo 
country,  and  many  of  these  will  doubtless  give  winter 
as  well  as  summer  employment  to  thousands. 

I  have  seen  the  steady  progress  of  the  gold  seeker 
northward,  and  yet  further  north,  from  the  lowermost 
bar  on  Eraser  river  to  the  extreme  of  Cariboo.  I  have 
visited  again  and  again  nearly  every  gulch  and  ravine 
where  a  camp  of  miners  have  located,  from  Fort  Yale 
on  the  south  to  the  present  northern  limit  of  explora- 
tion where  pack  animals  could  be  got  through,  and 
without  animals,  have  penetrated  more  than  seventy 
miles  still  further  north  and  east,  and  my  opinion  is, 
that  Bear  river  and  its  hundreds  of  tributaries  will  be 
found  another  Cariboo,  in  the  extent  and  richness  of 
its  gold  deposits;  but  only  to  be  developed  by  the 
same  slow  progress  that  has  characterized  the  move- 
ments of  the  mining  adventurer  northward  from  the 
gold  producing  bars  of  the  lower  Fraser,  for  the  past 
four  years.  The  country  and  climate  together  are  so 
forbidding,  that  the  progress  of  the  prospector  onward 
must  necessarily  be  slow. 

In  regard  to  the  proper  time  for  starting  for  Cari- 
boo, no  advice  that  I  can  give  will  avail  anything,  be- 
cause advice  will  not  be  heeded.    Every  man  seems 


det 
tui 
tnl 

sei 


ROUTE    TO    OAKlJiOO. 


13 


3d,  but 
nonths 
Iioped 
of  the 
Gvery- 
'Unds, 
!o  that 
nting 
elairn, 
you 

in  the 
been 
is  no 
t)e  let 
•deep 
riboo 
nnter 

eeker 
most 
have 
I  vine 
Yale 
lora- 
and 
enty 
1  is', 
I  be 
IS  of 
the 
)ve- 
the 
►ast 
i  so 
ird 

iri- 
be- 
ns 


determined  to  be  a  little  ahead  of  liis  fellow  adven- 
turer, and  so  rushes  on,  rco;ardless  of  real  faets  and 
trutiiful  evidence  that  ought  to  be  sulRcient  to  teach 
sensible  men  better. 

Even  now,  March  second,  there  are  hundreds  here 
at  Victoria,  and  alonj:;'  the  route  between  here  and 
Cayoosh  Flat,  who  are  now  satlsllcd  that  they  are  all 
of  two  months  too  early,  the  first  of  May  being  soon 
enough  to  leave  Victoria.  The  past  winter  has  been 
one  of  unusual  severity  throughout  the  entire  Fraser 
river  country.  A  greater  depth  of  snow  than  for  years 
before,  now  covers  the  ground,  and  renders  transit,  ex- 
cept upon  snow  shoes,  next  to  impossible  ;  and  unless 
we  get  unusually  early,  warm  rains,  the  opening  of  the 
mining  season  promises  to  be  all  of  a  month  later 
than  usual. 

I  do  not  propose  to  tell  the  California  miner  what 
he  needs  to  make  himself  comfortable  on  the  way,  or 
after  he  gets  there  ;  he  is  presumed  to  know,  or  thinks 
he  knows,  better  than  anv  one  else  can  tell  him.  I 
will  only  say,  tliat  he  had  better  make  his  calculations 
for  a  decidedly  rainy  time  throughout  the  whole  of  the 
summer  and  mining  season,  instead  of  the  almost  total 
absence  of  rain  as  in  the  mining  regions  of  California. 

I  have  often  been  asked,  "Did  you  ever  see  a  Cari- 
boo r'  and,  **  What  khid  of  an  animal  is  it  V  During 
the  three  years  that  1  have  traversed  the  Cariboo  coun- 
try, as  well  as  the  adjoining  country  for  sixty  or  sev- 
enty miles  to  the  west,  north  and  east,  I  have  never 
seen  a  Cariboo,  though  I  have  often  seen  the  "Ele- 
phant "  of  thr.t  country.  The  best  evidence  to  be  ob- 
tained in  the  country,  from  those  who  have  often  seen 
the  animal,  and  apart  from  the  opinion  of  naturalists 
who  have  made  mention  of  it,  is  that  it  is  a  kind  of 
mongrel  Reindeer ;  the  form  of  its  antlers,  which  aro 
often  found,  are  certain  evidence  that  it  is  neither  the 
Elk  or  Stag. 

There  is  no  reliance  to  be  placed  upon  game  in  Car- 
iboo as  a  means  of  subsistence.  Grouse  are,  in  a  few 
places,  abundant,  and  fish  are  quite  plentiful  in  the 


-« 

i 


1 


14 


KOUTE    TO    CARIBOO. 


lakes  that  are  not  alkaline  ;  wild  fowls  are  to  some  ex- 
tent procurable  along  the  swamps,  marshy  and  lake 
lands,  but  as  a  whole,  the  game  of  the  country  is  hard- 
ly worth  the  time  required  to  capture  it.  There  are 
no  venomous  reptiles  in  Cariboo. 

(commending  the  foregoing  to  the  careful  considera- 
tion of  the  adventurer,  as  my  honest  opinion  of  the 
country  and  its  approachable  routes,  their  advantages 
and  disadvantages,  I  leave  him  to  form  his  own  opin- 
ion of  his  chances  for  a  fortune,  or  a  return  with 
nothing  more  than  having  obtained  a  tolerably  fair 
view  of  the  "  Elephant "  of  Cariboo. 


m'' 


some  ex- 
and  lake 
7  is  luird- 
Jicre  are 

onsidcra- 
n  of  the 
v^Huta^es 
^ri  opin- 
rn  with 
ably  fair 


THE  NEZ  PEACES 


y 


AND 


SALMON  RIVER  GOLD  FIELDS. 


The  publisher  of  this  hand-book  takes  pleasure  in 

layiuL,  before  its  readers  a  portion  of  a  letter,  which 

explains  itself,  as  the  only  introduction  necessary  to 

this  part  of  tlje  wcrk. 

Wallula  City,  Jan.  18th,  1862. 
A.  RosENFiELD — Dea?'  Sir:  Yours  of  December 
4th  came  to  hand  a  few  days  since.  You  desire  my 
opinion  of  the  success  likely  to  attend  a  well  conducted 
branch  of  your  San  Erancisco  establishment  in  some 
part  of  the  Nez  Forces  mining  country,  and  connecting 
the  same  with  a  Letter  and  perhaps  general  Express 
business.  Also,  my  candid  judgment  in  reference  to 
the  Nez  Perces  gold  mines,  their  probable  extent,  rich- 
ness, accessibility,  &c.,  &c. 

^  T?  TV  ^  W  'wF 

I  believe  at  Lewiston,  a  new  city  of  that  name,  at 
the  forks  of  the  Snake  and  Clearwater  rivers,  and  the 
head  of  navigation,  wouhl  1)0  an  excellent  point  to 
establish  your  business  ;  I  mean  a  general  News,  Book 
and  Stationery  Store,  to  which  I  think  you  might  add 
with  profit,  the  buying  of  gold  dust  for  shipment.  I 
think  Lewiston  would  be  preferable  to  this  place. 

There  are  already  as  many  Expicss  comjianies  here, 
and  Ex  I  tress  aiients,  as  are  needed   to  do   the  present 


16 


NEZ    PERCES    AND    SALMON    RIVEIt    MINES. 


I 
111 


business  of  the  country.  Between  Portland  and  Lew- 
iston,  Messrs.  Tracy  &  Co.  are  running  a  re<:^ular  Ex- 
press, with  facilities  fully  equal  to  the  present  as  well 
as  prospective  wants  of  the  country  for  some  time  to 
come. 

From  Lewiston  to  Oro  Fino,  Elk  City  and  the  Sal- 
mon river  mines,  Mossman  &  Miller  and  Cady  &  Co. 
send  their  Express  agents  regularly,  for  the  conveyance 
of  letters  and  treasure.  It  would  require  experience 
and  time  and  some  acquaintance  with  the  country,  to 
compete  successfully  with  these  already  well  known 
and  reliable  companies. 

Two  years  in  the  mining  districts  of  this  region,  will 
enable  me  to  give  you  a  reliable,  if  not  an  interesting 
account  of  them,  which  I  will  now  endeavor  to  do. 

^  ^  ^  v\^  4JU  ^ 

^  nv-  "TV  "TV  "TV*  nv 

Truly  yours,  T.  R.  OLNEY. 


I  u 


ROUTES  AND  DISTANCES 


T  O    TH  B 


SALMON  RIVER  GOLD  MINES. 


The  best  route  by  which  to  reach  the  Ncz  Perces 
and  Salmon  river  gold  fields,  depends  entirely  upon 
the  point  of  departure,  or  where  a  man  is,  when  ready 
to  start.  Thus,  your  humble  servant,  instead  of  start- 
ing from  San  Francisco  and  taking  the  usual  route 
from  thence,  via  Portland  and  up  the  Columbia  river, 
lias  never  yet  seen  tlie  city  of  Portland,  or,  indeed,  the 
Columbia  river,  except  so  far  as  the  Snake  makes  one 
of  the  main  branches  of  that  river.  My  starting  point 
for  the  mines  was  Salt  Lake  City,  thence  by  the  way  of 
Raft  river  to  Snake  river,  and  down  the  Snake  to  the 
Nez  Perces  country  ;  and  not  only  was  it  a  very  direct 
route,  but  an  inexpensive  one,  in  all  except  time,  as 
compared  with  the  route  from  San  Francisco.  I  pro- 
pose to  give  you  a  short  description  of  the  trip,  and 
then  take  up  the  points  you  desire  me  more  particularly 
to  enlarge  upon.  . 

As  one  of  a  company  of  eight  men,  I  left  Salt  Lake 
City  on  the  third  of  Juno,  1860,  for  a  pros])ecting  tour 
to  the  Salmon  river  country,  having  heard  marvelous 
ytories  of  gold  deposits  on  the  upper  tributaries  of  that 
river.  We  took  with  us  twelve  mules,  well  packed 
with  provisions,  mining  implements  and  camp  equip- 
;>ge,  and  started  for  Snake  river,  the  great  southern 
tributary  of  the  Columbia. 


18 


UOUTES    AND    DISTANCES. 


ROUTK   C^ROM    8 ALT   I^AKE   CITIT. 

From  Salt  Lakci  City,  along  the  old  Califor- 
nia enii<;Tant  road  to  its  junction  with  Subt- 
Ictt's  c'ut-olF,  near  City  rocks,  to  a  branch  of 

MILES. 

KAFT  KIVER 160 

This  distance  we  made  in  eight  and  a  half 
days.     Thence  down  Raft  river  and  valley 

TO  SNAKE  KIVEll \.,     32 

Down  Snake  river  along  the  west  bank 

TO  CROSSING 66 

From  thence  along  the  eastern  bank  and  val- 
ley 

TO  FORT  BOISE 45 

Here  we  made  head-quarters  for  more  than  a 
month,  prospecting  on  Reid's,  Payette's, 
Owyhee  and  Malheur  rivers,  on  all  of  which 
we  found  gold,  and  in  several  places  could 
have  made  big  wages,  but  for  the  mean, 
thieving  and  decidedly  hostile  bands  of  Snake 
Indians,  which  we  found  altogether  too  nu- 
merous for  the  safety  of  ourselves  on  all  the 
principal  tributaries  of  the  maiii  Snake  river. 
Crossing  the  river  to  the  west  bank  near 
Fort  Boise,  and  keeping  near  the  river  along 
the  Oregon  emigrant  road  to  where  it 

LEAVES  THE  RIVER 40 

Here  the  road  makes  oft  in  a  north-westerly 
course,  more  directly  towards  Walla  Walla. 
We  kept  down  the  valley  of  the  Snake  to  the 
mouth  of 

SALMON  RIVER 110 

Here  we  intended  to  prospect  for  the  remain- 
der of  the  season,  but  were  most  emphatically 
forbidden  and  really  deterred  from  either 
ascending  the  river  or  prosjjccting  its  bars; 
and  such  were  the  constant  annoyances  from 
the  Indians,  we  were  glad  to  get  out  of  their 
eouiilrv,  witii  no  olhir  loss   than  nearlv  half 


1 

i 


ROUTES   AND   DISTANCES. 


19 


'alifor- 

Subt- 

ich  of 

MILES. 
160 

a  lialf 
lley 
32 

66 

cl  val- 

45 

•lan  a 
!tte's, 
vhieli 

L'Ollld 

lean, 
nake 
>  nu- 
[  the 
iver. 
near 
loiiir 

..      40 

;erly 

alia, 
the 

.. .    110 

kain- 
Illy 
:her 
irs  ; 
oni 
leir 
jalf 


our  mules.     From  the  mouth  of  the  Salmon 
ft  to  Lcwiston,  at  the  mouth  of 

CLEAR  WA^rEU  RIVER 55 

Wliole  distance  from  Salt  Lake  City  to  Lew- 
iston,  five  hundred  and  ei<^ht  miles. 

uoute:  Fito:»i  san  fk aivcis<;o,  via  pokt- 

The  distances  on  this  route  from  Portland  to 
Walla  Walla  city,  I  take  from  published 
tables  of  distances,  and  not  from  any  knowl- 
edge I  have  of  the  route. 

From  San  Francisco,  by  ocean  steamer,  to 
Portland  ;   thence  by  river  steamer 

TO  THE  DALLES 100 

Over  the  Dalles  portage 

BY   STAGE 15 

Now  by  steamer  again 

TO  OLD  FORT  WALLA  WALLA 120 

During  seasons  of  high  water,  steamers  make 
regular  trips  from  Walla  Walla  around  up 

TO  LEWISTON 150 

From  Old  Fort  Walla  Walla  there  is  a  good 
road  and  regular  stage  route  to  New  Fort 
Walla  Walla ;  this  place  is  here  more  com- 
monly called 

WALLA  WALLA  CITY 30 

From  Walla  Walla  City  a  good  stage  road 
and  stages 

TO  LEWISTON..... 84 

All  along  between  Walla  Walla  City  and  Lew- 
iston  are  numerous  houses  of  entertainment, 
making  it  easy  of  transit  for  men  or  pack  ani- 
mals. Lewiston  is  at  the  head  of  steam  naviga- 
tion on  Snake  river,  and  its  nearness  to  the 
difterent  mining  localities  on  Clearwater,  Sal- 
mon and  Powder  rivers,  will  continue  it  what 
it  now  is,  a  place  of  growing  importance  ;  for 
already  it  is  quite  a  thriving  city,  the  head- 
quarters of  traders,  miners  and  packers. 


\k 


20 


KOIJTKS    ANJD    DISTANCES. 


Before  I  start  out  for  tlic  mines,  let  mc  gpeak  a  mo- 
ment of  the  country  \vc  are  in,  and  its  native  inhabit- 
ants. Lewiston  and  vicinity  is  pjirt  of  a  Ncz  IVrces 
Indian  reservation.  Indinns  and  lialf-hreeds  are  nu- 
merous, hut  friendly,  or  wouhl  i)e  if  ])ro|)erlj  treated 


hytl 


len'  w 


iiite 


visitors.     Some  of  the  Nez  Perces  trihe 


havin<;'  mixed  with  the  Snake  Indians,  are  tlie  occu- 
pants of  a  kind  of  middle  ground  on  the  north  hank 
of  the  Salmon  river;  these  arc  not  as  kindly  disposed 
towards  tlic  whites  as  are  the  more  northerly  Nez  Per- 
ces ;  nor  arc  they  as  hostile  as  the  Snjdvcs,  who  o(!cupy 
the  whole  upper  Snake  river  country,  on  both  sides  of 
the  river  and  on  all  its  tributaries,  down  to  and  inclu('- 
infx  both  banks  of  the  Salmon  river. 

These  Indians  are  quite  numerous,  own  considerable 
bands  of  cattle  and  horses,  and  cultivate  the  soil  to 
some  extent  in  a  few  localities.  There  is  every  evi- 
dcnce  that  they  know  of  the  existence  of  rich  gold  de- 
posits on  the  upper  Salmon  ;  for  though  their  own 
peoi)le  are  forbidden  to  expose  its  locality,  or  even  to 
procure  it  in  any  considerable  quantity,  for  fear  of  ex- 
citing the  cupidity  of  the  whites,  yet  not  unfrequently 
an  indiscreet  one  or  more  among  them  will  otf'er  gold 
in  surprising  quantity,  always  insisting  that  it  is  to  be 
had  with  l)ut  little  more  trouble  than  the  picking  up 
and  separating  from  about  the  same  quantity  of  sand 
or  gravel. 

As  a  people,  the  Snakes  arc  always  in  bad  humor 
with  the  whites.  They  say —  and  with  a  good  deal  of 
truth — "  When  the  white  man  comes  into  Indian 
country  to  dig  gold,  Indians  all  die  off."  No  serious 
disturbance  has  as  yet  occurred,  as  a  consequence  of 
the  encroachment  of  the  Salmon  river  miners  thus  far 
upon  the  lands  of  the  Snakes  ;  but  I  should  not  be 
surprised  were  an  outbreak  to  occur  at  any  moment. 
I  do  not  speak  thus  to  deter  any  one  from  coming  here, 
but  only  as  my  opinion  of  what  I  believe  will  result 
from  causes  that  are  operating  snrely,  and  which  can- 
not be  prevented  or  long  delayea ;  because,  as  certainly 
as  there  is  gold  there,  the  miner  is  bound  to  have  it. 


I 


an( 
fori 
easi 
Hvill 

8U| 


i 


I 


\ 


mk  a  1110- 
c  inhal)it- 
L'z  IV'rces 
Is  an;  nii- 
\y  treated 
rees  irihe 
the  ueeii- 
rtli  hank 
(lisjioscd 
Nez  Per- 
lO  oeeupv 
1  sides  of 
d  ineliK'- 

siderable 
13  soil  to 
very  evi- 
gold  de- 
leir  own 
even  to 
ir  of  ex- 
cquently 
fer  gold 
:  is  to  be 
'king-  up 
of  sand 

humor 
[  deal  of 

Indian 

serious 
lenee  of 
thus  far 

not  be 
loment. 
ig  here, 
I  result 
2h  can- 
)rtainly 
lave  it, 


UOUTE8    AND    DISTANCES. 


21 


and  will — it  l)einpj  only  a  matter  of  time  ;  and  there- 
fore the  more  tliere  are  come,  and  the  sooner,  the 
casiei  and  (juicker  the  eoniiuest ;  for,  call  it  what  you 
Avill — fate,  or  destiny — they  must  give  way  before  the 
Buj)erior  raec. 

Tin:    liOUTKS    TO    OKO    FIXO. 

There  are  two  roads  leading  from  Lcwiston 
to  the  Oro  Fino  diiigings  ;  both  are  good 
wagon  roads  for  the  greater  part  of  the  way 
at  the  proper  season,  and  good  pack  roads  at 
all  seasons  when  there  is  not  too  great  a  depth 
of  snow.  The  route  along  the  north  bank  of 
Clearwater  is  a  few  miles  the  shortest,  but  on 
no  other  account  is  to  be  preferred  to  the  south 
route.  From  Lewiston,  l)y  the  north  route, 
which  lies  along  the  nortli  bank  of  Clearwa- 
ter river,  the  distance  to  Oro  Fino  City  is  but 
seventy-nine  miles.  The  road  is  good  for 
wagons  with  the  exception  of  the  last  twenty 
miles,  which  is  mountainous.  There  is  plenty 
of  timlier  and  water  along  the  route,  and 
grass  for  animals  at  the  proper  season.  There 
are  a  few  way  stations  and  good  places  to 
camp  all  the  way.  I  will  note  the  most  im- 
portant points. 

From  Lewiston  cross  to  the  north  bank, 
then  eastward Iv,  over  a  good  road, 

TO  BASKET  CREEK 12 

Thence  along  the  river  again,  fine  road 

TO  CAMP  CREEK 9 

Now  a  fine  road  again 

TO  NORTH  FORK  OF  CLEARWATER...     12 
Ford  the  Fork,  and  thence  along  the  river  and 
foothills 

TO  FORD'S  STATION.... 12 

From  Ford's  there  arc  two  trails  to  Oro 
Fino  City.  By  the  south  route,  cross  Oro 
Fino  creek  and  follow  up  the  Clearwater 


22 


ROUTES    AND    DISTANCES. 


TO  BELLAS  FERKY 6 

Now  a  good  road  till  nearly  reaching 
ORO  FINO  CITY .* 28 

There  is  not  three  miles  difference  between 
tl)e  north  and  south  rout  s  from  Ford's  to  Oro 
Fino  Citv  ;  but  by  the  north  route  you  cross 
Quartz  and  Canal  creeks  and  reach  Pierce 
City  three  miles  before  you  "Ct  to  Oro  Fino. 
Whole  distance  from  Lewiston  to  Oro  Fino 
by  river  route,  seyenty-nine  miles. 

As  there  is  much  the  largest  amount  of 
wagon  trayel  on  the  south  route  from  Lewis- 
ton  to  Oro  lino,  I  will  giyc  distances.  From 
Lewiston  you  take  v  south-easterly  direction 

TO  CRAIG'S  STATION 15 

From  Craig's,  a  good  road  again  eastwardly 

TO  BURNS'   STATION *      16 

From  the  vicinity  of  Burns',  several  routes 
diverge  to  different  points  on  Clearwater,  as 
well  as  Salmon  river.  Taking  the  Oro  Fino 
route,  the  distance  is, 

TO  BELLS  FERRY 25 

There  is  a  shorter  trail  between  Craig's  and 
Bell's  ferry,  crossing  Cafion  creek  to  the  north 
of  Burns',  but  it  is  only  available  to  packers 
and  footmen  carrying  their  own  provisions. 
I  have  already  given  the  distance  from  Bell's 
to  Oro  Fino.  Whole  distance  from  Lewiston 
to  Oro  Fmo  by  the  south  route,  eighty-four 
miles. 

From  Burns'  station  there  is  ii  good  road 
direct 

TO  LAWYER'S   CROSSING .30 

This  is  on  the  Clearwater,  some  seventeen 
miles  above  Bell's  ferrv,  and  on  the  most  di- 
rcct  route  to,  and  distant  from 

^LK  CITY 70 


B 


^  •.. 


"% 
i 


ROUTES    AND    DISTANCES. 


23 


6 


28 


15 
16 


25 


% 


.  . .      30 

cen 
di- 

. ..      70 


Elk  City  is  at  the  forks  of  the  American  and  Red 
rivers,  and  these,  with  Buffalo,  Rodney's  and  BUiir's 
creeks,  help  to  form  the  South  Fork  of  the  Clearwater. 

During  the  last  summer  rich  di^<rin,i2:s  were  struck 
on  Oro  Grand,  a  trihutary  of  the  North  Fork  of  the 
Clearwater,  and  distant  only  fifteen  miles  north-east  of 
Oro  Fino  City.  Good  dig^in^s,  or  such  as  would  be 
called  ^ood  in  any  part  of  California,  were  also  found 
on  Rabbit  and  Cedar  creeks;  these  two,  with  numerous 
other  smaller  creeks  and  gulches  are  the  sources  of  the 
North  Fork,  but  abandoned  because  they  would  not 
yield  but  an  ounce  to  an  ounce  and  a  half  a  day  to  the 
man. 

From  Cedar  creek,  it  is  twelve  miles  across  the 
White  Cedar  mountains  to  Lou  Lou  creek,  a  branch 
of  St.  Mary's  river,  the  latter  trilnitary  ta  Bitter  Root 
river.  Lou  Lou  creek  must  not  be  mistaken  for  Lolo 
creek,  which  flows  into  the  South  Fork  of  Clearwater 
above  Bell's  ferry.  A  prospectinj^  P'^i'ty,  in  the  early 
part  of  August  last,  passed  over  to  and  down  Lou  Lou 
creek,  and  found  diggings  that  will  pay  from  ten  to 
thirty  dollars  a  day,  and  which,  as  soon  as  supplies 
can  be  taken  there,  will  be  worked.  Eight  miles  lielow 
the  mouth  of  the  Lou  Lou,  at  the  forks  of  St.  Mary's 
and  Hell  Gate  rivers,  is  a  small  village  of  Blackfoot 
Indians.  Tliev  are  friendlv,  at  least  to  traders,  and 
either  to  induce  the  latter  to  visit  their  country  for  the 
purpose  of  traffic  or  because  it  is  really  so,  they  relate 
great  stories  of  the  gold  tiiat  lies  in  the  beds  of  the 
upper  sources  of  the  Hell  Gate  river  ;  and  as  these 
streams  all  take  their  rise  in  a  spur  of  the  Ro'^'ky 
mountains,  that  in  its  continuation  westwardly  forms 
the  Salmon  river  group  and  chain,  all  of  which  aio 
known  to  be  liigldy  aurilV'rous,  leaves  no  reason  to 
doubt  the  existence  of  lich  deposits  on  verv  r.ianv  of 
the  sources  of  tiie  Hell  Gate  river.  This  river  ilerives 
its  nani<'  from  an  extremely  dangerous  whirl,  or  raj)id, 
eight  miles  above  its  confluence  with  tlie  Bitter  Root, 
and  six  mik's  below  the  mouth  of  the  Black ff)()t   fork. 

All  these  rivers  have  their  suiu'c<:s  in  what  if<  jiulpcd 


I'   I       Ml 


-.'i 


I 


24 


ROUTES    AND   DISTANCES. 


to  be  a  gold  producin,^  country,  and  many  portions  of 
it  will  undoubtedly  be  found  to  contain  it  in  abun- 
dance when  the  facilities  for  properly  prospecting  it 
can  be  relied  upon. 

At  present  but  little  is  known  of  the  climate,  no  one 
to  my  knowledij^e,  except  the  natives,  having  yet  win- 
tered there.  There  are  several  points  of  interest  to 
the  gold  seeker  in  the  Nez  Perces  countr}'-,  that  I  have 
never  visited.  I  could  instance  almost  the  entire  of 
the  North  Fork  of  the  Clearwater.  There  are  nume- 
rous small  creeks  and  streams  tributary  to  this  fork, 
that  show  admirable  prospects,  if  it  were  not  that  the 
Salmon  river  diggings  so  greatly  excel  them.  But  if 
the  Nez  Perces  mines  are  not  quite  so  rich  as  the  Sal- 
mon river  country,  there  is  this  in  their  favor  :  they  are 
nearer,  easier  of  access,  have  not  so  great  an  altitude, 
and  the  season  consequently  longer  and  milder  than 
the  more  elevated  Salmon  river  mines,  whilst  all  fear 
of  any  disturbance  from  Indians  can  be  laid  entirely 
aside,  which  is  no  small  item  oftentimes  in  the  list  of  a 
miner's  anxieties  and  perplexities. 

Witli  the  preceding  fair  and  honest  expression  of 
my  views  of  the  Nez  Perces  country,  as  a  gold  produc- 
ing region,  I  will  now  point  the  way  from  a  personal 
knowledge  of  three  different  routes,  to  the  already  ex- 
plored portion  of  the  Salmon  river  country,  and  to  do 
this  we  will  go  once  more  back  to  the  grand  rendezvous, 
the  citv  of  Lewiston. 


r.EirisToir  to  isajlhoiv  leivcie. 

There  are  three  routes  from  Lewiston,  or  near 
Lewiston,  to  the  Salmon  river  gold  fields.  I 
have  been  on  all  of  them,  and.  will  give  dis- 
tances as  near  corrcet  as  can  be  estimated  by 
the  time  recjuircd  to  travel  over  them  ;  and 
here  let  inc  say,  don't  try  to  take  a  wagon 
ovei"  the  whole  distance,  for  it  cannot  be  done. 
Merchandise  can  be  carried  in  wagons  as  far 
as  Craig's  or  Burns'  station,  and  across  the 


•I 

-A* 


% 


n 


ROUTES    AND   DISTANCES. 


25 


portions  of 
in  abun- 
ipecting  it 

^(?,  no  one 
:  yet  win- 
nterost  to 
'<^t  I  have 
entire  of 
^''o  nuinc- 
t'jis  fork, 
that  the 
■     But  if 
the  Sal- 
they  are 
altitude, 
'der  than 
all  fear 
entirely     ^ 
3  list  of  a 

'ssion  of 
produc- 
personal 
-ady  ex- 
id  to  do 
lezvous, 


;ar 
I 

is- 

)V 

id 
m 

0. 

ir 

le 


4 


prairie  when  it  is  dry  and  hard,  as  far  as  the 
lioiivy  timber ;  but  it  must  be  packed  the  bal- 
ance of  the  way. 

From  Lewiston,  to  take  either  of  the  three 
trails,  ^o  on  the  south  Oro  Fino  road  / 

TO  CRAIG'S 15 

From  here  the  old,  Indian  trail  to  Salmon 
river  crosses  Cam-as  prairie,  the  soil  of  which 
resembles  the  adobe  lands  of  California,  and 
is  so  flat  that  during  the  rainy  season  water 
rovers  most  of  the  surface,  but  only  a  few 
inches  deep  ;  the  soil  then  perfectly  saturated 
is  so  soft  and  sticky  tliat  no  wagon,  or  even 
pack  animal,  can  cross  it ;  so  that  after  the 
fall  rains  set  in,  it  is  useless  to  attempt  it,  un- 
til in  winter,  when  it  is  frozen  solid.  During 
thfe  summer  it  becomes  so  dry  that  the  move- 
ment of  animals  over  it  raises  a  perfect  cloud 
of  fine  black  dust,  which  is  anythin*^  but 
ap'oeable.  This  prairie  is  thickly  covered 
with  Cam-jis,  a  bulbous  plant,  tlie  top  of 
which  resembles  the  leek  or  wild  onion ;  the 
bulb  however  is  not  like  the  leek  in  its  prop- 
erties, but  more  closely  resembles  a  dry,  hard 
potato.  It  makes  an  important  article  of 
food  for  the  Indians,  who  gather  it  in  consid- 
erable qantities,  which,  after  drying,  is  pound- 
ed into  fiour.  Distance  from  Craig's,  across 
the  prairie, 

TO  PRAIRIE  SPRINGS 14 

Now  through  an  open,  sparsely  timbered 
country,  occasionally  rough,  with  three  or 
four  good  camping  places,  and  reach 

SALMON  RIVER 63 

From  here  to  the  present  mines  you  must  fol- 
low up  the  narrow  flats  and  through  canons, 
where,  if  the  river  happens  to  be  high,  it  is 
next  to  iin]iossible  to  pass 

TO  MOUTH  OF  SLATE  CREEK 25 

Whole  distance  from  Lewiston,  one  hundred 


26 


liOLTES   AND    DISTANCES. 


and  seventeen  miles.  Here  you  strike  the 
present  mining  district  of  Salmon  river. 

We  will  now  take  the  new,  or  middle  trail, 
from  Lewiston 

TO  CRAIG'S 15 

TO  BURNS' 16 

From  Burns',  the  route  leads  across  the 
north-east  horder  of  Parharlawhan  prairie 

TO  GOOD   CAMPING 12 

Now  on  again  to  another  good  camping 
ground, 

GRASS,  AVOOD  AND  WATER 20 

From  thence  a  good  trail 

TO  HEAVY  TIMBER 10 

From  this  point  the  trail  is  a  hard  one  to 
travel;  country  thickly  timhered,  hilly,  and 
even  verv  mountainous  most  of  the  wav 

TO  SUMMIT,  OR  SALMON  DIGGINGS...  25 
Whole  distance  from  Lewiston,  ninety -eight 
miles,  and  this  route  takes  yoi^  directly  to 
Summit  diggings,  whereas  the  first  described 
route  with  its  distances  leaves  you  at  the 
mouth  of  Slate  creek,  some  twenty  miles  from 
Florence,  Nevada,  Millersburg,  and  other  of 
the  principal  mining  camps. 

The  old  route  from  Lewiston  to  Salmon 
river  diggings  is  the  longest,  as  it  takes  for  a 
considerable  distance  the  Oro  Fino  and  Elk 
City  trails.  It  is  now  seldom  taken  by  miners 
who  desire  to  go  direct  to  the  Salmon  river 
mines,  but  packers  often  go  the  route  with 
supplies  for  Elk  City,  and  then  take  the  trail 
for  Salmon. 

Whole  distance  from  Lewiston 

TO  ELK  CITY 80 

From  Elk  City  to  Summit  diggings  on  Slate 
creek,  there  arc  two  routes  :  one  known  as  the 
mountain  trail,  a  very  difficult  and  laborious 
one  to  travel,  is  by 

MOUNTAIN   TRAIL 65 


■1^^^"=^ 


ROUTES   AND    DISTANCES. 


27 


0 
0 


15 


80 


65 


Making  the  whole  distance  from  Lcwiston, 
one  hundred  and  forty-five  miles.  By  the 
other  trail  from  Elk  City,  which  avoids  the 
worst  part  of  the  mountain,  and  the  one  al- 
ways taken  by  the  packers,  the  distance  to 
Summit  diirgintrs  is  called  eighty-five  miles. 
I  think  it  ten  miles  less,  which  would  make 
the  whole  distance  from  Lcwiston,  via  Elk 
City,  to  the  Salmon  river  mines,  one  hundred 
and  fifty-five  miles. 

The  principal  mining^  district  of  Salmon  river,  at 
present  worked,  is  on  Slate  creek  and  its  tributaries. 
The  richest  portion  of  the  district  is  known  as  the 
Summit  diggings,  because  situated  upon  an  elevated 
plateau,  constituting  almost  the  summit  elevation  of 
the  country  around.  As  a  plateau,  it  is  comparatively 
level,  and  yet  intersected  and  cut  up  in  every  direction 
by  small  ravines  and  gulches,  some  with,  but  very 
many  without  water  sufficient  for  sluicing ;  whilst  a 
great  deal  of  very  rich  ground  is  entirely  without 
water  upon  tlic  surface.  The  whole  district  is  a  de- 
composed quartz,  resting  upon  a  kind  of  grey  granite 
bed-rock,  at  varying  depths  from  the  surface,  and  as 
all  the  gold  is  above  this  rock,  the  prospecting  is  sim- 
ple and  certain,  requiring  no  sinking  of  shafts  or  holes 
deeper  than  the  surface  of  the  rock. 

A  great  difficulty  found  in  working  many  of  the 
claims,  is  the  presence  of  water  upon  the  bed-rock, 
with  no  chance  to  drain,  on  account  of  the  general 
level  of  the  whole  plateau. 

The  different  mining  camps  that  have  taken  names 
in  print,  and  figure  as  cities,  upon  paper,  are  just  so 
many  localities  on  small  gulches  and  ravines,  where  a 
few  miners'  tents  or  cabins  are  erected,  with  perhaps 
one  or  more  of  tliem  designated  as  a  store  or  trading 
house.  Their  names  are  as  follows :  Nevada  City, 
Florence  City,  Millerstown,  Meadow  Creek,  Baboon 
Gulch,  Pioneer  Gulch,  Mason's  Gulch,  Neal's  Gulch, 
Ureka,  and  others,  constantly  being  added  as  further 


I 

n 


28 


ROUTES   AND    DISTANCES. 


prospecting]^  opens  up  new  pavin<:^  grounds.  All  these 
places  are  in  the  immediate  vicinity  oY  each  other,  the 
farthest  hut  three  or  four  miles  apart,  and  all  on  the 
head  gulches  and  tributaries  of  Slate  creek. 

On  Salmon  river,  eighteen  miles  above  the  mouth 
of  Slate  creek,  near  the  fork  of  the  Salmon,  new  and 
very  rich  ground  has  been  struck  upon  Colby's  gulch, 
and  good  ]n-ospects  are  obtained  from  all  the  l)ars 
along  the  Salmon  in  this  vicinity^  which  unerrinijly 
demonstrates  the  existence  of  coarser  gold  in  increased 
quantities  higher  up  the  country.  The  head  waters  of 
the  North  Fork  of  Salmon  river,  and  those  of  Bitter 
Root  or  St.  Mary's  river,  all  take  their  rise  in  the  same 
group  or  chain  of  mountains  as  do  those  of  the  South 
Fork  of  the  Clearwater,  upon  w^hich  Elk  City  and 
other  mining  camps  are  located  ;  and  the  presumption 
is,  that  the  whole  country  is  to  a  greater  or  less  extent 
auriferous.  That  every  gulch  and.  ravine  will  he  found 
rich,  no  one  believes  ;  but  that  a  vast  extent  of  unde- 
veloped country,  much  of  it  possessing  great  mineral 
wealth  as  compared  with  many  other  gold  producing 
countries,  is  almost  equally  certain.  I  am  acquainted 
with  parties  who,  though  possessing  twenty  dollars  a 
day  claims  in  the  Nez  Pcrccs  mines,  will  spend  the 
next  summer  in  prospecting  the  upper  Salmon  and 
tributaries,  even  at  the  risk  of  losing  their  Nez  Perces 
claims.  Those  who  know  of  the  real  richness  of  the 
Summit  mines,  and  there  arc  very  many  who  do,  who 
have  not  participated  in  them,  are  not  going  to  be  con- 
tent with  anything  less  than  one  hundred  dollars  a  day 
diggings,  till  they  have  spent  at  least  one  season  look- 
ing for  better  paying  claims. 

WHAT  I  THINK  OF  THP]  CHANCES. 

Already  I  hear  of  large  numbers  on  their  way  to  the 
Clearwater  and  Salmon  river  mines  ;  all  of  these,  of 
course  every  man,  expects  j^o  strike  a  fortune,  or,  at 
least,  great  pay,  or  he  would  not  attempt  so  long  and 
laborious  a  trip,  as  he  is  sure  to  find  it.  Now  it  cannot 
be  otherwise  than  this,  of  the  thousands  who  reach  the 


i^ 


V 


ROUTES    AND    DISTANCES. 


29 


mines,  a  large  number,  perhaps  one-half,  by  practicinjx 
industry  and  prudence  can  make  good  wages,  a  few  of 
these  will  strike  big  pay,  and  be  more  th'in  satisfied 
with  their  success,  whilst  a  still  lesser  numl)er  will,  by 
mere  luck,  blunder  upon  fortunes.  This  leaves  one- 
half,  or  perhaps  more,  to  grapple  with  the  evils  of  mis- 
fortune and  disappointment.  Men  ought  not  to  come 
here  expecting  to  prospect  new  claims,  open  them  out, 
make  a  fortune  and  return  home  iii  a  single  season, 
though  many  will  do  it.  The  mining  season  is  at  best 
short,  not  more  than  five  months  in  the  most  fiivorablo 
districts,  and  in  many  not  more  than  four.  The  cost 
of  transportation  to  the  mines  is  enormous,  or  if  you 
pay  your  board  it  will  cost  you  from  two  to  four  dol- 
lars a  day. 

The  present  winter  is  being  unusually  severe,  in  all 
this  as  well  as  the  upper  country,  and  large  numbers  of 
animals  arc  dying,  and  unless  a  considerable  addition 
is  made  to  the  packing  force  of  last  year,  provisions 
cannot  be  taken  into  the  mines  early  enough,  nor  fast 
enough,  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  probable  immigra- 
tion ;  so  that  all  that  can,  should  provide  themselves 
with  pack  animals  before  reaching  Lewiston,  or  expect 
to  pay  about  three  prices  for  what  they  will  want,  when 
they  reach  the  mines. 

With  plenty  of  money  in  pocket,  there  is  no  dif- 
ficulty in  reaching  Lewiston,  with  very  fair  hotel  and 
steamboat  ctccommodations  all  the  way;  but  from 
Lewiston  every  man  should  expect  to  keep  his  own 
hotel ;  so  that  pack  animals,  with  tent  and  camp 
equipage,  make  a  party  perfectly  comfortable  that 
without  them  might  be  certain  to  meet  with  incon- 
venience if  not  discomforts. 


^j>. 


COST   OF  TRIP. 

The  cost  must  depend  entirely  upon  the  habits  or 
inclination  of  the  man  ;  for  whilst  one  would  require 
three  hundred  dollars,  an'other  would  get  along  just  as 
well,  or  well  enough,  for  two  hundred  ;  even  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  will  take  a  man  through  tolera- 


w 


■Jv 


30 


ROUTES   AND   DISTANCES. 


bly  well,  if  he  meets  with  no  miphap  or  delay  on  the 
way.  So  that  three  hundred  dollars  may  be  put  down 
as  the  very  least  that  any  one  should  think  of  starting 
with,  as  this  would  barely  enable  him  to  get  back 
again,  should  he  be  unsuccessful,  and  even  then  ho 
would  have  to  squeeze,  both  ways.  If  you  have  four 
hundred  dollars,  you  are  all  right,  whilst  five  hundred 
makes  a  man  feel  strong  and  good,  as  though  he  was 
proof  against  any  ordinary  ill  luck  that  might  befall 
him,  and  gives  him  means  to  move  about  and  prospect 
for  a  claim,  in  case  he  strikes  upon  nothing  soon  after 
reaching  the  mining  country.  And  yet,  after  all,  if 
there  is  any  one  thing  a  man  can  safely  do,  after  he 
has  procured  his  entire  outfit  for  the  trip,  and  do  it 
with  entire  satisfaction  to  himself,  and  can  do  it,  is,  to 
put  another  extra  one  or  two  hundred  dollars  in  his 
pocket ;  it  cannot  come  amiss,  unless  he  happens  to 
get  robbed  of  it. " 

WHERE  TO  PEOCURE  OUTFIT. 

Although  the  miner  can  procure  anything  that  he 
may  require  of  food,  clothing  or  mining  tools,  either 
at  Portland  or  Lewiston,  or  even  in  the  mines,  yet 
every  mile  that  he  moves  from  Portland  towards  Lew- 
iston or  the  mineSj  adds  to  the  cost  of  everything,  and 
in  a  wonderfully  increased  ratio ;  I  say  this  from 
knowledge  gained  by  experience ;  my  occupation,  that 
of  trader  and  packer,  enables  me  to  judge  correctly; 
so  that  the  sooner  the  miner  can  procure  his  supplies 
and  have  them  put  into  snug  packages  and  pay  a  fair 
freight  upon  them  to  Lewiston  or  through  to  the  mines, 
the  more  money  he  will  save. 

TIME  FOR  STARTING.     ^   " 

My  remarks  on  this  head  are  not  intended  for  crazy 
men,  or  those  who,  reckless  of  advice,  rush  on,  think- 
ing to  gain  much  by  being  first  in  the  field ;  but  to 
those  who  are  willing  to  be  advised,  hoping  to  be  pro- 
fited by  it. 


Af/ 


S] 

d 
o 
e^ 

e^ 
n( 
b( 
m 
w 

cif 
m 

Pc 

ju( 

it 

ho 

to 


ROUTES    AND    DISTANCES. 


31 


I 


The  last  two  winters  were  far  more  mild,  with  less 
snow,  than  the  present,  and  then  the  mining  season 
did  not  open  in  the  Nez  Perces  mines  till  the  middle 
of  June,  and  as  the  present  is  the  most  severe  season 
ever  experienced  here,  and  the  Salmon  river  mines 
even  more  elevated  than  the  Oro  Fino  mines,  there  is 
not  a  hope  that  profitable  mining  will  commence  there 
before  the  first  or  middle  of  June ;  but  even  though 
mining  could  be  done  to  some  extent  before  that,  it 
will  be  impossible  sooner  to  get  supplies  through. 

It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  to  start  from  San  Fran- 
cisco before  the  middle  of  May,  is  only  time  and 
money  thrown  away. 

And  now,  having  given  my  real  opinion  of  the  Nez 
Perces  and  Salmon  river  gold  fields,  with  my  best 
judgment  of  distances  from  actual  travel,  I  shall  leave 
it  with  you  to  publish  or  not  as  you  may  think  best, 
hoping  that  if  published,  you  will  be  careful  to  avoid 
typographical  errors,  particularly  in  figures  relating 
to  distances. 

T.  R.  OLNEY. 

To  A.  ROSENFIELD. 


WP 


VOCABULARY 


OF  THE 


CHINOOK  JARGON. 


. 


■"sT 


Chinook — Enfflisk. 

Nika    I 
Mika    You 
Klusker    They 
MeBiker    You  (])luml) 
Teiiass  man    A  boy 
Cliaco     Come 
Momook    Work 
Klaawa    Go 
Kar    AVliere 
Yawa    Here 
Alta    At  present 
Alke    Afterwards 
Illilie    Land 
Ahyak    Quick 
Siva    Distance 
Klasker    Who 
Klosh     Good 
Laport    Door 
Konaway    All 
Sun    Day  ^- 

Poolakly    Night 
Tenas  sun    Morning 
Sitkum  sun    Noon 
Kakwa    The  same 
Yoolkhut    Long 
Hy-you    Plenty 
Sockally    High 


Pilton    Fool 
Tekoi)e    White 
Pill    Ked 
Klayl    Bhick 
L(}tete     Head 
Laposh     Moutli 
Leeda    Teeth 
Lelang    Tongue 
Seca-hoose    Face 
Leni^i    The  hand 
Yaksoot    Hair 
Lareh    Barley 
Lepoah    Peas 
Wapito    Potatoes 
Ledowo    Turnips 
Lekarrot 
Lesonion 
Kabbage 
Klapite    Thread 
IMoola    Saw  mill 
Percece     Blanket 
Kamo(  >sack    Beads 
Poolally    Powder 
Kula-kulla   Birds 
Musket    A  gun 
Ninamox    Otter 
Ena    Beaver 
Quanice    Whale 


Carrots 

Onions 

Cabbage 


k 


\ 


VOCABULARY   OF    THE    CHINOOK    JAROON. 


IS 


^ 


t 


Yuiceco    Porpoine 
Oluck    Snake 
Soolee    Mouse 
Skad    Mole 
Lelo    Wolf 
PiHli-pish     Cat 
Kuitan    A  horse 
Moos-moos    A  cow 
Lamuto    Sheep 
Naniox    A  dog 
Knshaw     A  hog 
Kimta    Behind 
Shetsham     Swim 
Seeapoose    Cap 
Leshawl    A  shawl 
P    And 
Wichat    Also 
Dly  tiu)80    Hay 
Dly    Dry 
Tum-tum    Heart 
Comb    Comb 
Koory    Run 
Pilpil    Blood 
Lesap    Egg 
People    Hen 
Lecook    Rooster 
Lapell    Spade 
Lapiosge    Hoe 
Leglow    Nail 
Lake    Lake 
Laehaise    Chair 
Kettle    A  pot 
Oskan    A  cup 
Lope    Rope 
Silux    Angry 
Shartj    Sing 
Mercie    Thanks 
Kinoose    Tobacco 
Chee    New 
Sunday    Sunday 
Pooh    Shoot 
Lolo    To  carry 
Klawa    Slow 
Wagh    To  spill 
Inti    Across 


Leprate    Priest 
Lejob     Devil 
Ka])o     A  relation 
Lepied     Foot 
Tee-owitt     Lt'g 
Yachoot    Belly 
Spose     If 
Delate     Straight 
SeepV     Crookeil 
Tolo    Win 
Kow    Tie 
Klack     Untie 
Yaka    He 
Neaika    We 
Man    Man 

Klootchman    Woman 
Chuck    Water 
Lum    Rum 
Patle    Full 
Datlamb    Drunk 
Boston    American 
Pesioux     French 
Malo    None 
Husatchy    Bad 
Tvhee    Chief 
Elitee    Slave 
Ou    Brother 
Ats    Sister 
Kapswalla    Steal 
Ipsoot     Secret 
Patlatch     Give 
Iscum    Take 
W^ake     No 
Nowitka    Yes 
Seokum     Strong 
Six    Friend 
Ikta    What 
Pechuck    Green 
Lemoro    Wild 
Daselle     Saddle 
Sitlii    Stirrup 
Lesibro     Sjjurs 
Kolan     Ear 
Klapp    To  find 
Kull    Tough,  hard 


14   VOCABULARY  OP  TUB  CHINOOK  JARGON. 


Liil)ull}i    The  buck 
SuplcMl    VV^heat 
Pile  K!ii)l(*(l     Hread 
LabiHcuit     HiHciiit 
Lavveeii    OatH 
Ij'ive     Uice 
Saifwa    Sugar 
Soap     Soap 
JMolaHH    MoUiHsea 
Stick  hIiocs     Slioes 
Skin  hIjooh 
(xleece  Pire 
Skullapoeii 
^lemoloose 
Aetwljoot 
^lowitch 


Mocfanins 
Candle 

A  ride 

Kill 
Bear 
Deer 


Cuitchaddy    Kabbit 
Skubbyyou    Skunk 
Olikliiyou    Seal 
Yakolla    Eagle 
AVaugh-wangli    Owl 
Skakairk     Hawk 
Mank     Duck 
Suiockuiock    Grouse 
jNIalaekua    Musquito 
Swaawa    Panther 
Skndzo    A  squirrel 
Enpooy     Jjice 
Lesway     Silk 
Lalopa    Ribbons 
Kapo    Coat 
SicKilox    Pantaloons 
Shirt    Shirt 
Aekik    A  11  sh  book 
TouV>8h     Milk 
Snass    Rain 
Pitliick    Thick       , 
Snow    Snow 
Lehash    An  axe 
Laleem    File 
C)  psu    A  knife 
Leklee     Keys 
Pillom    A  Broom 
Lakutchee    Clams 
Lacassett    A  trunk 


Laugh 


Tuniolitch     A  barrel 

()j)kan     A  basket 

Ijepla  A  plate 

Latuble     A  table 

Laqueen     A  saw 

Moosum     Sleep 

CU>ld  llliiie     Winter 

Warm  Illiiie     Summer 

Cold    A  year 

Ke  waaj)    A  hole 

Zum     Write 

Klemenwhit    False 

Klonass    Don't  know 

Quass    Fear,  afraid 

Olally     Berries 

Tzae     Sweet 

Tumalla    To-morrow 

Hee-hee 

INIoon    Moon 

Klakeece    Stars 

How    Listen,  attend 

Sil-sil    Buttons 

Lapeep    Pipe 

Akaepooit    Needle 

Tin-tin    jMusic 

Tance    Dance 

Opootch    Tail 

Etlinwill    Ribs 

Ikt  stick    A  yard 

Elp    First 

Claystone    Coal 

Lesack    A  bag 

Newha    How  is  it 

Tenass  Klootchman     A  girl 

Tenass  A  child,  and  any- 
thing small  /' 

Wawa   Language ,  to  speak 

jNIamook  Chaco    Bring 

Muck-muck  Anything  good 
to  eat 

Pire-chuck.  Ardent  spirits 
of  any  kind 

King  Greorge.  English, 
Scotch  or  Irish 

Laplosh  A  shingle  or  plank 


y 


\ 


\ 

VOCAIILLARY    OF    THE    CHINOOK    JARGON.       36 


\ 


V  / 


ft 


ill 

■y- 

ak 
od 
•its 

h, 
Ink 


Wake  iiikn  Imntiix      I  d  ) 

not  uiiderHtsiiul 
OilieH     Ssindvvicli  iHluiider 
lIyat»H     Ljir^e  or  very 
Till     Heavy  or  tired 
I^!i/-y     Slow  or  lazy 
ManioolxipHoot    T()  conceal 
llalliick  Laport     Open  the 

door 
Ikpooy  Luport,      Shut  the 

door 
Klakany     Out  of  doors 
Midliyht      Sit    down,   put 

down,  or  ntay 
Mid  whit     Stand  up,  get  up, 

or  move 
Sitkuui    jNliddle  or  half 
TenaB  Poolakly     Sunset  or 

dunk 
Cookshut       Fight,    break, 

injure,  etc. 
W  a  K  e  rsko  k  y  ni    Weak 
Wakekonsick     Never 
Kunitux     UuderHtand 
Tikke     Want,  dewire,  etc. 
Ikta  niika  tiklvij    AVhat  O.o 

you  want 
OfvOiih     This  or  that 
Wake  ikta  nika  tikke     I  do 
not  want  anything 
Sow  wash     Indian,  Savage 
Ankuty    Long  ago 
Lay-lay    A  long  time 
Konsick    How  much 
Mokook    Buy  or  sell 
Kultis    Nothing  gratis 
Kapitt  Finish,  Stop 
Kapitt  wawa     Hold  your 

tongue 
Nanitch    Look,  to  see 
Sockally  Tyhee    The    Al- 
mighty 
Keekwully   Deep,  beneath 
Quonisum    Always 
Sick    Unwell,  ill,  sick,  etc. 


Lecreme     Cream  color 
Leky      Spotted,  or  piebald 
Oio     Hungry  or  thii'sly 
Lapushmo     Saddle  Blanket 
Chick  chick    A  wagon  or 

cart 
Kull-kull  stick     Oak 
Laplash  stick     Cedar 
Legum  stick     Pine 
Klemansa  pel     Flour 
Sale     Cotton  or  calico 
Kaniiu     Conoe  or  boat 
Klackan    A  fence,  field 
Kali  don     Lead  or  shot 
Chickaman     Metals  of  all 

kinds 
Chickaman    shoes      Horse 

shoes 
Tanass    JMusket      A   pistol 
JMoolack  or  ]M<;o.s     Elk 
Salmon  or  sailo-wejk    Sal- 
mon 
TanjiHs  Salmon     Trout 
Lemule  or  Hyaskolon  Mule 
]\[an  Moos-moos      An  ox 
Tanass  Moos-moos    A  calf 
Henkerchim  Handkerchief 
Coat    A  Avo man's  gown 
Keekwully  coat     A  petti- 
coat 
Keekwully Sickilox  Draw- 
ers 
Hachr  on  House     A  house 
Kata    Why,  or  what  is  the 

matter 
Whaah      (Exclaruation   of 

astonishment)  Indeed 
Abba      Well    then,   or,    if 

that  is  the  case 
Luckwulla    A  nut 
Tupsu    Grass  or  straw 
Hoey-hoey    Exchange 
Tootosh  gleece     Butter 
Kquttilt    To  collapse 
Glass    A  loking  glass  or 


i 


36       VOCABULARY   OP   THE    CHINOOK   JAROON. 


window 
Koory  kuitaii   A  race  horse 
Tanass  Lakutchee  Mussels 
Koppa    From  toward,  &c. 
Clutch    Grandmother 
Kia-howya    How  are  you, 

or  poor,  pitiful 
Lapooelle    Frying  pan 
Appola     A   roast  of  any- 

ttiing 
Quis-quis    A  straw  mat 
Makook  house    A  store 
Katsuck    Midday,  between 
Oloman     An   old  man,  or 

worn  out 
Lemaci    An  old  woman 
Hyass  Sunday    Christmas 

day  and  the*  4th  of  July 
Pisheck  Bad,  exhausted 
Paper  Paper,  books,  &c. 
Zum  seealihoose    Paint  de 

face. 
Pire  Olally    Eipe  berries 
Cold  olally     Cranberries 
Fill  olally    Strawberries 
Lapiaege    A  trap  ov  snare 
Miami     Down  tne  stream, 

below 
Machlay   Towards  the  land 
Staetijay    Island 
Aalloyma    Another  or  diff- 
erent 
Hee-lee-lema,    Gamble 


Killapie    Return  or  capsize 

Kloch-klock     Oysters 

Lawoolitch     A  hottle 

Annah  Exclamation  of  as- 
tonishment 

Sick  turn  tum  Regret,  sor- 
row 

Kooy-kooy    Finger  rings 

Ilrowlkult  Stubborn,  de- 
termined 

Tickaerchy    Although 

Tamanawas    Wiichcraft 

Owaykeet    A  road 

Ikt    1 

Mox    2 

Klone    3 

Locket    4 

Quinum    5 

Tahum    6 

Sinimox    7 

Sotkin    8 

Quies    9  » 

Tatilum    10 

Tatilum  pi  ikt    11 

Tatilu  .n  pi  mox    12 

Tatilum  tatilum  ou  ikt 
Takamonak    100 

Ikt  hyass  Takamonak  1,000 

Stcw'ibelow    North 

Steg\i^aak    South 

Sun  chako    East 

Sun  midlight    West 


\ 


1 1  ' 


Sw 


■Pi 


WeUs,  FargQ:&  Clo's 


X 


X 


FOR  THB 


Salmon  Eiver  Mines. 


\ 


1 


t 


WE   ARE   PREPARED   TO 

Eeceive  and  Forward  Letters,  Packages, 
Parcels  and  Treasure, 

To  and  from  all  points  in  the  Salmon  River 
and  Nez  Perces  Mining  Districts.- 


ESTABLISHED  AGENCIES 

At  all  the  Principal  Points  and  will  have 
responsible  Messengers  on  all  the  routes. 

WELLS,  FAB&O  &  00. 

Sam  Fbamcisco,  Mafoh,  1862. 


I 


fr 


A 


':H 


\i 


f 


i 

I.-; 


r 


MUSIC!  MUSrC!  ■USiC! 
itumTsiiirrti 

S.  8.  S.  ROMAN  VIOLIN 

AND   GUITAR   STRINCS, 

Wabranted  the  Best,  and  sold  in  quan- 
tities to  suit,  at  ' 

Koltler's  Cfreat  Hmi^e  Importinf^  Hoii^» 

S4ITF  *\NCISCO,  CAL. 


MAPS,  CHARTS,  ATLASES,  &c. 


A   FULL    SUPPLT   OP 


MAPS  AND  ATLASES 

IS    CONSTANTLY   BF.PT   ON  HAND 

NEW  MAPS  arrW  ^- f  ^y  each  Steamer  of 
the  most  recent  date.  iTa^«  Maps,  showing 
the  Position  of  the  Army,  constantly  arriving. 
School  Apparatus  mni  Sehovi  Merchandise 
forjsjaie. 

SOS  MoRlgomeiy  Sty  I^^m  i)«  2,  San  Fraofiseo. 
W.  holt;  Ag«&t  for  J.  H.  COLTON 


m  V7 ' 


